Ruby G. Ford, Historic skipjack in Tilghman, Maryland.
The Ruby G. Ford is a historic skipjack sailing vessel that operated on Chesapeake Bay with a V-shaped hull and centerboard design. Measuring roughly 45 feet long and about 15 feet wide, it served as a working fishing boat for commercial operations.
The vessel was built in 1891 at Fairmount, Maryland and entered the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. It numbered among the last working commercial sailing fleets still operating on Chesapeake Bay.
The vessel represents traditional boat-building methods of Maryland watermen and their long role in the Chesapeake Bay oyster fishery.
The vessel is located in the maritime community of Tilghman along Gibsontown Road for those exploring the region's water-based heritage. Since it is a historic site in a specific location, it helps to check access conditions before visiting.
The vessel met a dramatic end when Captain Bart Murphy set it on fire after restoration costs became prohibitive. This sad conclusion reflects the fate of many traditional fishing boats that could not survive the passage of time.
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